Cubs await word on night games

12/14/2003 9:20 PM ET

By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

NEW ORLEANS -- Want to know what time the Chicago Cubs' home games will start in 2004? So do the Cubs. The Cubs have yet to announce starting times for the upcoming season because the team is waiting for word from the city of Chicago regarding its request for additional night games. Major League Baseball also is discussing game times with the networks regarding broadcasts, such as ESPN's Sunday night telecasts.

In mid-October, the Cubs proposed free remote parking, extended shuttle bus service to weekend games and the creation of a $1 million fund to address neighborhood concerns in their bid to add more night games and keep their Wrigleyville neighbors happy.

The Cubs currently play 18 night games at home. The team hopes to phase in additional night games in hopes of reaching 30 by 2006.

Cubs manager Dusty Baker certainly wants more night games at Wrigley Field.

"On the road, we play 90 percent night games," Baker said Sunday. "Your body gets used to sleeping at certain times, getting up at certain times. If anything, I hope we can play more (night games) on the first game back after a road trip. That hurts you for two days. I'm rooting for more night games."

Baker even knows when he wants to play them.

"Personally, I hope we take some of those night games out of April," he said, "and put them in June, July, August."